Mercury Mystique 1999 Owner's Manuals

101
5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and
pull downward until all of the belt
is extracted and a click is heard.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The
belt will click as it retracts to
indicate it is in the automatic
locking mode.
7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle
and pull up on the shoulder belt
while pushing down with your knee
on the child seat.
is latched securely by pulling on it.

102
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is in automatic locking
mode (you should not be able to
pull more belt out). If the retractor
is not locked, unbuckle the belt and
repeat steps two through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat
is properly secured before each
use.
Attaching safety seats with
tether straps
Some manufacturers make safety
seats that include a tether strap
that goes over the back of the
vehicle seat and attaches to an
anchoring point. Other
manufacturers offer their tether
strap as an accessory. Contact the
manufacturer of your child safety
seat for information about ordering
a tether strap.

103
tether hook into the hole in the
tongue of the center rear lap belt.
After the hook is in the hole, pull
on the loose end of the lap belt
webbing to shorten the belt and
tighten the tether strap.
To install a tethered child safety
seat in the rear seat, you will need
tether anchor hardware.
Tether anchor hardware
Tether anchor hardware kits (part
number 613D74), including
instructions, may be obtained at no
charge from any Ford or Lincoln-
Mercury dealer. All vehicles built
for sale in Canada include a tether
anchor hardware kit.
Tighten the anchor
according to specifications.
Otherwise, the safety seat may not
be properly secured and the child
may be injured in a sudden stop or
collision.

Starting
104
Extended idling at high
engine speeds can produce
very high temperatures in the
engine and exhaust system,
creating the risk of fire or other
damage.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS
A computer system controls the
engineÕs idle revolutions per minute
(rpm). When the engine starts, the
idle rpm runs faster to warm the
engine. If the engine idle speed
does not slow down automatically,
have the vehicle checked by your
dealer or a qualified service
technician. Do not allow the vehicle
to idle for more than ten minutes.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass or
other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
21MSten 4/13/99 2:23 PM Page 104

Starting
105
IMPORTANT VENTILATION
INFORMATION
If the engine is idling while the
vehicle is stopped in an open area
for long periods of time, open the
windows at least 2.5 cm (1 inch).
OFF PLN/FLR
PANEL
A/CFLOOR
DEFFLR
DEF

MAX
A/C
Adjust the heating or air
conditioning to bring in fresh air.
Do not start your vehicle in a
closed garage or in other
enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes
can be toxic. Always open the
garage door before you start the
engine. See
Guarding against
exhaust fumes
in this chapter for
more instructions.
21MSten 4/13/99 2:23 PM Page 105

Starting
106
Improve vehicle ventilation by
keeping all air inlet vents clear of
snow, leaves, and other debris.
Guarding against exhaust
fumes
Although odorless and colorless,
carbon monoxide is present in
exhaust fumes. Take precautions to
avoid its dangerous effects.
Have the exhaust and body
ventilation system checked
whenever:
¥ the vehicle is raised for service.
¥ the sound of the exhaust system
changes.
¥ the vehicle has been damaged in
a collision.
If you ever smell exhaust
fumes of any kind inside
your vehicle, have your dealer
inspect and fix your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes. These fumes
are harmful and could kill you.
21MSten 4/13/99 2:23 PM Page 106

Starting
107
PREPARING TO START THE
VEHICLE
Engine starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system. This system
meets all Canadian Interference-
Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of
radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected
engine, avoid pressing the
accelerator pedal before or during
starting. Only use the accelerator
pedal when you have difficulty
starting the engine. For more
information on starting the vehicle,
refer to
Starting the enginein this
chapter.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants
have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts
and their proper usage, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
2. Make sure the headlamps and
vehicle accessories are off.
21MSten 4/13/99 2:23 PM Page 107

Starting
108
If starting a vehicle with a manual
transaxle:
¥ Make sure the parking brake is
set.
¥ Push the clutch pedal to the
floor. Otherwise, the engine will not
crank (turn over).
¥ Put the gearshift into neutral.
If starting a vehicle with an
automatic transaxle:
¥ Make sure the parking brake is
set.
¥ Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).
21MSten 4/13/99 2:23 PM Page 108

Starting
109
3. Turn the key to the on position
(without turning the key to start).
Make sure the following lights
illuminate briefly. If a light fails to
illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer or a
qualified service technician.
¥ If the driverÕs safety belt is
fastened the safety belt warning
light does not illuminate.
BRAKE
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
Alternative design
Alternative design
O/D
OFFTRACTION
CONTROL
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Starting
110
STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Turn the key to the start
position (4) without pressing the
accelerator pedal and release as
soon as the engine starts. The key
will return to the on (3) position.3
4
21
2. If the engine does not start
within five seconds, wait ten
seconds and try again.
3. If the engine does not start in
two attempts OR the temperature
is below -12¡C (10¡F), depress the
accelerator pedal and start the
engine while holding the
accelerator pedal down. Release
the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
Vehicles equipped with the 2.0 l
engine: If the engine fails to start,
continue to crank with the
accelerator depressed about 1/4 of
the way down and hold that
position until the engine starts.
DO NOT crank for more than
30 seconds
or you could damage
the starter.
4. After idling the engine for a few
seconds, apply the brake pedal and
release the parking brake.
21MSten 4/13/99 2:23 PM Page 110